Chicago gaming, Worcester officials to meet tomorrow

Tuesday

Mar 26, 2013 at 8:00 AMMar 26, 2013 at 8:52 PM

By Shaun Sutner TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER - Gambling opponents are gearing up for a fight on the eve of closed-door meetings scheduled for Wednesday between city councilors and representatives of an Illinois-based company and a Cambridge developer who want to open a slots parlor and downtown hotel in the city.

The parcel has been optioned to Cambridge hotel developer Richard L. Friedman, who with Mr. Bluhm plans to meet with councilors individually in the office of Mayor Joseph M. Petty Wednesday afternoon, according to Councilor at-large Konstantina B. Lukes.

Mrs. Lukes, a critic of the slots proposal, said she plans to attend.

"I want to eyeball these guys," she said.

While Mr. Petty is scheduled to be present, the meetings would comply with the state Open Meeting Law because a council quorum, a majority of the 11-member body, would not be assembled.

While supporters of the gambling proposal argue it would be an economic development boost for the city, critics say a slots emporium would spin off crime, gambling addiction and other problems.

Edward L. Moynihan, owner of a constable business in the city, has criticized the proposal before the council and has spoken with Mrs. Lukes about forming an opposition group when the plan goes before city voters in a binding referendum this summer or fall.

Greg Carlin, CEO of Massachusetts Gaming & Entertainment, released a statement this afternoon:

“We respect people's opinions on both gaming in Massachusetts and on our proposed development in Worcester and we look forward to an open dialogue. Our experience in other jurisdictions has been that our properties have been a positive catalyst for economic development including job creation and new tax revenues.”

Guy W. Glodis, a former Worcester state senator and Worcester County sheriff, said a gambling emporium would create jobs.

"It's an issue of Worcester's future. It would create great economic vitality," said Mr. Glodis, now a lobbyist for the state correction officers union and other clients. He said he has not been hired by the group pushing for a the slots parlor.

The Worcester plan - one of four proposals being weighed by the state Gaming Commission for stand-alone slots operations - opposed to full-scale casinos - has drawn the attention of a national anti-gambling group, Washington.-based Stop Predatory Gambling.

"In Worcester, they're going to run the most sophisticated public affairs campaign the city's ever seen," said Les Bernal, national director of the group, which also has an office in Lawrence. "The first thing they do is donate to local charities. Then they target opinion leaders."

Mr. Bernal's group has fought Mr. Bluhm's casino projects across the country, and Mr. Bernal maintained that the deep-pocketed billionaire, who hosted President Barack Obama's $30,000-a-head 49th birthday party, has shown a willingness to spend freely on public relations campaigns.

"Bluhm is one of the bigger casino players in America," Mr. Bernal said. "He's made a good part of his fortune getting working-class citizens to lose their savings."